Inspired by the darkness

Look upon my suffering and deliver me (Psalm 119:153).

Vincent Van Gogh was a brilliant painter, yet in a fit of depression he cut off part of his left ear. Robert E. Howard helped invent modern fantasy literature with his creation of Conan the Barbarian, yet in spite of his literary success he chose to end his life at the age of 30. Judy Garland enjoyed great popularity as a singer and actress, yet her life was marred with addiction, financial problems, and several failed marriages. The list could go on and on—many people with great talent have led dark and miserable lives.

Why? What is it about tragedy that brings flashes of greatness to the surface? Many people try to escape emotional pain by single-mindedly throwing themselves into their professions. When emotions are raw, creative types can fill their work with intensity and beauty. When we witness what they have created, we are deeply moved because powerful feelings have been revealed.

But ignoring emotional pain does not make it go away; it only festers like an untreated wound. Bodily infection can make a person sick and sometimes even result in death; in the same way, ignoring emotional wounds can lead to a wasting away of the soul and sometimes even suicide.

Suffering is a powerful experience that affects everyone deeply. Suffering changes you, makes you look at things differently. During a time of misery, frivolous distractions lose their appeal; when everything is spinning out of control, you focus on what is really important and cling to it desperately. Some look for stability in their work; others try to find security within their families. But how do you cope if your work fails to impress? How do you hang on if you have no one special in your life?

Some of the best church music was written by Christians when they were going through terrible hardship. But they did not throw themselves into hymn writing to sidestep emotional pain; they faced suffering head on with confidence that God would carry them through. Their hymns are powerful because they express peace and hope in the face of tragedy and despair. By facing pain with Jesus’ help, they found healing and beauty when life was at its darkest. If you lean on Jesus, this can be true for you as well.